That’s actually a good reminder about airflow—never even thought about that until I accidentally blocked a vent with some chunky brackets once. Took me weeks to figure out why the room felt stuffy. On mixing metals, I get the hesitation, but sometimes a little contrast works if you’ve got a few touches elsewhere (like lamp bases or picture frames). Has anyone tried painting finials to match hardware instead of swapping them out? Wondering if that holds up over time or just chips off.
Has anyone tried painting finials to match hardware instead of swapping them out? Wondering if that holds up over time or just chips off.
Tried this on a whim last winter because I couldn’t find black finials to match my new door handles. I used a spray primer first (the kind for metal), then matte black spray paint. Here’s what I learned:
1. Clean the finials really well first—mine had weird dust and old polish on them.
2. Use painter’s tape to cover the rod, unless you’re painting that too.
3. Two light coats of primer, let it dry, then two coats of color.
4. Let them cure for a couple days before putting them back up.
They’ve held up surprisingly well, but I did get a tiny chip when I accidentally knocked one with a ladder (don’t ask). It’s easy to touch up, though. If you’re worried about durability, maybe try a clear topcoat? I skipped it and haven’t had major regrets, but I don’t have kids swinging from the curtains either.
Mixing metals still kind of stresses me out, but at least paint lets you experiment without buying all new hardware...
Love hearing that the paint held up for you—honestly, that’s encouraging. I’ve been eyeing my own mismatched rods and finials for ages now, but I always end up talking myself out of painting because I’m worried about chips or it looking “crafty” in a bad way. Your tip about the primer makes sense. I had a similar situation with cabinet pulls a while back and skipping primer was a mistake—paint peeled after a couple months.
I’m with you on the mixing metals dilemma. Every time I see it in magazines it looks great, but in my house it just feels like I made a mistake. Maybe it’s the lighting, or maybe it’s just that I notice the little things more than anyone else ever would.
One thing I’ve found is that if you do get a chip, having leftover paint saved in a little jar is a lifesaver. I keep a few tiny artist brushes in my junk drawer just for stuff like that. You’d never know how many touch-ups my house has until you look really close.
I do wonder if a matte clear coat would help with durability, especially if you’ve got kids or pets bumping into things. On the flip side, sometimes those topcoats change the color just enough to be noticeable, so test on a scrap first if you can.
It’s funny how something as small as curtain hardware can make a room feel more finished—or at least less “builder basic.” I say go for it if you’re on the fence. Worst case, you repaint or swap them out down the road. It’s not like you’re demoing a wall or anything...
That’s pretty much where I’m at too—every time I see those photos with mixed metals, it looks intentional and cool, but in my place it just comes off like I couldn’t decide what to buy. Maybe it’s the 80s light fixtures clashing with everything else, or just that I notice every “mistake” because I live here.
I tried painting an old rod last month (honestly, just to avoid buying another one), and skipping primer was a disaster. The paint scratched off the first time I slid the curtain open. Second try, I used a spray primer and it’s holding up way better, but yeah, I keep a little jar of touch-up paint too. Feels like cheating but nobody’s ever noticed.
I’ve wondered about clear coats as well. Part of me thinks it’d help, but I had a weird experience where the matte topcoat made my black hardware look sort of grayish? Not terrible, just not what I expected. Might be worth testing if you’re picky about color.
Honestly, for something so small it makes a bigger difference than I thought. Even if the finish isn’t perfect, it looks way less “rental” now... which is about all I’m aiming for at this point.
The paint scratched off the first time I slid the curtain open.
Not sure I totally agree about the mixed metals always looking intentional—sometimes it just works because the rest of the room is super minimal or has a certain vibe. In my old place, I leaned into the “couldn’t decide” look and honestly, it felt kind of fun. Maybe the problem’s not the rods but those 80s fixtures? Swapping out a light fixture for something more neutral made the whole space feel less chaotic for me, even with mismatched hardware. Also, I’ve found that if you go for higher-efficiency bulbs, it distracts everyone with how bright it is anyway...
Yeah, I’ve definitely had paint scratch off cheaper rods too—it’s annoying. I agree that sometimes mixed metals just work, especially if you keep other stuff pared down. If you want to avoid the scratched paint issue, I’d suggest lightly sanding the rod and using a metal-specific spray paint with a clear coat. Also, swapping out dated fixtures for something simple can make a huge difference—did that in my last rental and suddenly the mismatched rods didn’t bug me anymore. Just my two cents.
I hear you on the scratched paint—nothing like spending time picking a finish only to watch it chip off after a month. I’ve actually gone the other way a couple times and just left the rod bare metal, especially with those brushed steel ones. Not for every room, but in my kitchen it kinda worked with the appliances and didn’t show wear as much. Has anyone tried wrapping rods in something like jute or leather strips? Curious if that holds up or just ends up looking messy after a while...
Has anyone tried wrapping rods in something like jute or leather strips? Curious if that holds up or just ends up looking messy after a while...
I tried jute on the rods in my laundry room, thinking it’d hide the scratches. Looked decent for about a week, but then it started fraying whenever the curtains moved. Leather might be sturdier but probably gets pricey fast. I’m with you on bare metal—at least you know what you’re in for.